Electronic musical instrument provided with devices for indicating preset state of respective voices

ABSTRACT

An electronic musical instrument having a plurality of tone volume setters for presetting the amplitude levels of musical tone signals of respective tone color voices comprises a plurality of variable resistors gang-operated with the tone volume setters and connected to a power source so as to deliver such levels of voltage as represent the preset states of the tone volume setters; and indicators respectively connected to the variable resistors and indicating the respective preset states. The brightness of the indicator is made to represent the amplitude level of the respective tone color voices preset by the tone volume setter.

United States Patent 11 1 [111 3,842,183

Aoki 1451 Oct. 15, 1974 [54] ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3,637,9141/1972 Hiyama 84/119 PROVIDED WITH DEVICES FOR 3,740,449 6/1973 Southard84/1.17

INDICATING PRESET STATE OF RESPECTIVE VOICES Inventor: Eiichiro Aoki,l-lamamatsu, Japan Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha, Hamamatsu-shi,Japan Filed: Nov. 29, 1973 Appl. No.: 420,322

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 30, 1972 Japan 47-120035 Nov. 30,1972 Japan 47-120036 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1972Schrecongost et a1 84/1.11

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-U. WeldonAttorney, Agent, or Firm-l(emon, Palmer & Estabrook [5 7 ABSTRACT Anelectronic musical instrument having a plurality of tone volume settersfor presetting the amplitude levels of musical tone signals ofrespective tone color voices comprises a plurality of variable resistorsgangoperated with the tone volume setters and connected to a powersource so as to deliver such levels of voltage as represent the presetstates of the tone volume setters; and indicators respectively connectedto the variable resistors and indicating the respective preset states.The brightness of the indicator is made to represent the amplitude levelof the respective tone color voices preset by the tone volume setter.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PROVIDED WITHDEVICES FOR INDICATING PRESET STATE OF RESPECTIVE VOICES BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to an electronic musical instrumentand more particularly to an electronic musical instrument provided witha plurality of tone volume setters for presetting the amplitude levelsof musical tone signals of respective tone color voices.

Generally, in an electronic musical instrument, a plurality of musicaltone signals bearing different tone color voices are mixed on the basisof amplitude levels chosen by a player. To this end, the electronicmusical instrument is provided with a plurality of tone volume settersfor presetting the amplitude levels of musical tone signals ofrespective particular tone colors, thereby determining the tone color ofthe out-coming musical signals. During performance, the player selectsany one or ones of the amplitude level presetting devices to decide thevoice he wants. Further, the player can control the amplitude levels ofmusical tone signals given forth during performance by operating tonelevers provided on the control panel of an electronic musicalinstrument, without relying on the aforesaid presetting devices.

The above-mentioned amplitude level presetting devices, except for theselection switches thereof, are generally received in a drawer providedin an electronic musical instrument. Unless, therefore, the drawer ispulled out, the amplitude level setting states or preset states ofmusical tone signals in the presetting devices can not be recognized. Inthis case, recognition of such conditions can only be confirmed by themovement of the movable elements of the tone volume setters of thepresetting devices. However, the withdrawal of the drawer obstructsperformance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly the object of this inventionto pro vide an electronic musical instrument, which, where one of theamplitude level presetting devices is selected by a player, enables himeasily to observe by the eye, even during performance, the state inwhich the selected presetting device presets the amplitude levels ofrespective tone color signals.

An electronic musical instrument according to this invention comprises aplurality of devices interlocking with the tone volume setters of thepresetting devices for presetting the amplitude levels of respectivetone color signals so as to deliver control voltages representing thepreset amplitude levels and indicating means responsive to the voltage.Thus, control voltages representing the amplitude level set state orpreset state of respective tone color signals in a presetting deviceselected through a selection switch are impressed on the correspondingindicating means to display the preset state.

According to an embodiment of this invention, each of indicating meansincludes, for example, a single indicator such as a lamp or alight-emission diode, which gives forth such degree of illumination asresponsive to the magnitude of output voltage from the voltagedeliverer. According to another embodiment of the invention, each ofindicator means includes a plurality of indicators such as lamps orlight-emission diodes. In this case, there are further provided aplurality of voltage level detectors having different threshold voltagelevels so as to distinguish the magnitude of output voltage from thevoltage deliverer. There are lighted a sufficient number of indicatorsto represent the magnitude of output voltage from the deliverer. In thiscase, any preset amplitude level of respective tone color signals isindicated by the number of the indicators which are lighted on. Each ofthe indicating means may be disposed adjacent to the tone lever providedon the control panel of an electronic musical instrument for manuallycontrolling the amplitude level of the associated musical tone signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 presents the circuitarrangement of an electronic musical instrument according to anembodiment of this invention which is provided with a plurality ofdevices for indicating the preset amplitude levels of respective tonecolor signals;

FIG. 2 indicates a modification of the indicating means used in theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the relative position of the numerous indicators of FIG. 2for displaying the preset state as well as the manually control ledstate of the amplitude level; and

FIG. 4 is a concrete circuit diagram of a voltage level detector used inFIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For convenience of description,musical tones generated in an electronic musical instrument according tothe embodiment of FIG. I are supposed to have such tone colors or voicesas are derived from three natural musical instruments, for example, aflute, a string instrument and an oboe. As in the prior art electronicmusical instrument, tone signals from tone generators 11 are supplied totone coloring filters l3, l4 and 15 through a keyboard section includingkeyboards and keyers. Connected to the output sides of the tone coloringfilters 13, 14 and 15 are a plurality (three in this embodiment) ofamplitude level presetting devices 16a, 16b and 160. The presettingdevice 16a has tone volume presetters l7Fa, 185a and 190a supplied withoutput signals from the tone coloring filters l3, l4 and 15respectively. Similarly, the presetting devices 16b and 160 have a groupof tone volume presetters 17Fb, 18Sb and Ib and a group of tone volumepresetters 17Fc, 1880 and 190:: respectively. The tone volume presettersdefine the amplitude levels of respective tone color signals when themovable elements thereof are removed. Output signals from the tonevolume presetters of any of the presetting devices 16a, 16b and 16c arecombined and selectively conducted to a utilization circuit including anamplifier 21 and loudspeaker 22 through a switch 20 for selecting one ofthe presetting devices. The tone volume presetters I7Fa, 188a and 190aof the presetting device are mechanically coupled with the correspondingvariable resistors 23Fa, 245a and 250a which represent the amplitudelevels of musical tone signals preset by the tone volume presetters. Themovable elements of the tone volume presetters and the correspondingvariable resistors are gang-operated, and the variable resistors areconnected at one end to a DC. source (+V) and the other to ground.Accordingly, control voltage having a magnitude representing the setposition of the tone volume presetter is drawn out from the movableelement of the corresponding variable resistor. As in the presettingdevice 16a, the tone volume presetters 17Fb, 18812 and 19012 of thepresetting device 16b are mechanically coupled to the correspondingvariable resistors 23Fb, 24Sb and 250b, and the tone volume presetters17Fc, 1880 and 190c of the presetting device 160 to the correspondingvariable resistors 23Fc, 248C and 250c. Output signals from the variableresistors 23Fa, 23Fb and 23Fc for representing the set levels of amusical tone. signal from the flute filter l3 preset by the tone volumepresetters 17Fa, 17Fb and 17Fc are selectively conducted to an indicator27F consisting of, for example, a lamp or a light-emission diode througha switch 26F interlocking with the selection switch 20 of the presettingdevices 16a, 16b and 160. Similarly, output signals from the variableresistors 248a, 2451) and 248C representing the preset amplitude levelsof a musical tone signal from the string filter l4 preset by the tonevolume presetters 188a, 18Sb and 185C are selectively supplied to anindicator 275 through a switch 265 interlocking with the selectionswitch 20. Output signals from the variable resistors 250a, 250b and2500 representing thepreset amplitude levels of a musical tone signalfrom the oboe filter are selectively transmitted to an indicator 270through a switch 260 interlocking with the selection switch 20.

As seen from the foregoing description, when one presetting device isselected by the selection switch 20, then the indicators 27F, 27S and270 are lighted with such brightness as indicates the preset amplitudelevels of the respective tone color signals associated with the selectedpresetting device which are being derived for performance. Since theindicators 27F, 27S and 270 and the selection switch are mounted on thecontrol panel of an electronic musical instrument, a player can easilyrecognize during performance the amplitude level of the respective tonecolor signals preset by the selected presetting device simply by lookingat the brightness with which the indicators are lighted.

An electronic musical instrument is so designed as to enable a player tocontrol during performance the amplitude level of musical tone signalsby manually operating tone levers mounted on the control panel of theinstrument, as well as by the above-mentioned presetting devices. Tothis end, the electronic musical instrument is further provided withtone volume setters 28F, 28S and 280, output signals from which aresupplied in a mixed state to the amplifier 21 through the selectionswitch 20. The movable elements of the tone volume setters 28F, 28S and280 are projectively provided on the control panel so as to be operatedfrom above. In this case, the indicators may be positioned adjacent tothe tone levers for manual control.

FIG. 2 indicates a modification of the indicating means used in theembodiment of FIG. 1. According to this modification, an output signalfrom the switch 26F is supplied to voltage level detectors 31Fa, 31Fb,3lFc and 31Fd whose threshold levels vary in succession. Indicators27Fa, 27Fb, 27Fc and 27Fd are connected to the outputs of the voltagelevel detectors 31Fa, 31Fb, 31Fc and 31Fd respectively. Thus, controlvoltage is supplied to any of the voltage level detectors which happensto have a lower threshold voltage than the magnitude of the controlvoltage to render the voltage level detector conducting, therebyimpressing the power source voltage on the indicator connected to thevoltage level detector so as to light it. Namely, there are lighted asufficient number of indicators to show the amplitude level of musicaltone signals preset by any of the presetting devices. Voltage leveldetectors 318a, 315b, 3156 and 315d and indicators 27Sa, 275b, 2786 and278a are connected, as shown in FIG. 2, to the output side of the switch268. Voltage level detectors 310a, 310b, 3100 and 310d and indicators270a, 270b, 2706 and 270d are connected to the output side of the switch260.

A voltage level detection circuit may be arranged as indicated in FIG.4. Numerals Trl and Tr2 denote transistors constituting a Schmitttrigger circuit, whose threshold voltage is determined by a variableresistor VR. Where control voltage impressed on the base of thetransistor Trl has a higher level than the threshold voltage level, thenthe transistor Trl is rendered conducting, causing the other transistorTr2 to be nonconducting. When the transistor Tr2 thus is renderednonconductive, a third transistor Tr3 is turned on to impress powersource voltage on an indicator for its lighting through thecollector-emitter path of the transistor Tr3.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of indicators 27 Fa, 27Fb, 27Fc and 27Fdfor displaying the preset amplitude level of musical tone signals fromthe flute tone coloring filter 13 arranged on the control panel 34adjacent to a tone lever 33 for manually controlling the amplitude levelof the musical tone signal from the flute tone coloring filter 13. Thearrows indicated in FIG. 3 show the direction in which the tone lever 33is manually moved through a slit 35 by a player.

If the selection switches 20, 26F, 26S and 260 consist of electronicswitches or relays, their switchover operation can be easily effected bya player, for example, through a push button.

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic musical instrument tone generators:

keyboard means for selectively keying tone signals generated by saidtone generators;

a plurality of tone coloring filters each connected to receive the tonesignals from said keyboard means;

comprising:

a plurality of pre-setting units each connected to the output sides ofeach of said tone coloring filters, each of said pre-setting unitsincluding a plurality of means equal in number to the number of saidfilters one connected to receive musical tone signals from each of saidtone coloring filters respectively to preset and mix the amplitudelevels of each of the musical tone signals;

means for generating signals proportional to each of the presetamplitudes of said musical tone signals;

visual indicating means equal in number to the number of said filters;and

switching means connected to selectively energize said indicating meanswith a desired one of said signals proportional to the preset amplitudesof said musical tone signals.

2. An electronic musical instrument as defined by claim 1 in which bothsaid amplitude level presetting means and said means for generatingsignals proportional to the preset amplitudes include variableresistors, corresonding ones of which are interlocked.

3,842,183 6 3. An electronic musical instrument as defined by 5. Anelectronic musical instrument as defined by claim 1 including thresholdcircuits connected between claim 1 i l di manual ntrols for saidpresetting sad 8 Itch ng me-ans Sal-d mdlcatmg means units and m whichsaid indicating means are positioned 4. An electronic musical instrumentas defined by claim 3 in which said threshold circuits are Schmidt 5adjacent Said manual Controlstriggers.

1. An electronic musical instrument comprising: tone generators:keyboard means for selectively keying tone signals generated by saidtone generators; a plurality of tone coloring filters each connected toreceive the tone signals from said keyboard means; a plurality ofpre-setting units each connected to the output sides of each of saidtone coloring filters, each of said presetting units including aplurality of means equal in number to the number of said filters oneconnected to receive musical tone signals from each of said tonecoloring filters respectively to preset and mix the amplitude levels ofeach of the musical tone signals; means for generating signalsproportional to each of the preset amplitudes of said musical tonesignals; visual indicating means equal in number to the number of saidfilters; and switching means connected to selectively energize saidindicating means with a desired one of said signals proportional to thepreset amplitudes of said musical tone signals.
 2. An electronic musicalinstrument as defined by claim 1 in which both said amplitude levelpresetting means and said means for generating signals proportional tothe preset amplitudes include variable resistors, corresonding ones ofwhich are interlocked.
 3. An electronic musical instrument as defined byclaim 1 including threshold circuits connected between said switchingmeans and said indicating means.
 4. An electronic musical instrument asdefined by claim 3 in which said threshold circuits are Schmidttriggers.
 5. An electronic musical instrument as defined by claim 1including manual controls for said presetting units and in which saidindicating means are positioned adjacent said manual controls.